Psalm 15: Integrating Faith and Work

By C. Pat Taylor

Psalm 15 begins with two related questions: "LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?" (v. 1). These are questions worthy of our consideration as Christian business professionals seeking to integrate our faith and our work. The psalmist answers the questions with the following description: "He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken" (vv. 2-5, NIV).

Using this psalm as a basis, Southwest Baptist University's College of Business and Computer Science is devoted to educating "Psalm 15 professionals," who exemplify traits including integrity, service, respect, charity, faithfulness, truthfulness, humility, and perseverance. The devotions in this small volume draw readers' attention to the need for believers to exemplify such character traits. Contributions from the SBU faculty and administration remind us of the necessity to approach life and work with a biblical worldview. This volume is an abbreviated version of another Resource Publications book, A Noble Calling: Devotions and Essays for Business Professionals, also available from Wipf and Stock Publishers (www.wipfandstock.com).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Release date: Apr 1, 2008
• ISBN: 9781498275644

Book preview

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Psalm 15

Integrating Faith and Work

David Wesley Whitlock

Gordon Dutile

Editors

Foreword by C. Pat Taylor

Featuring Contributions From:

Troy Bethards, Ronda O. Credille,Timothy DeClue, Gordon Dutile, Marinell Erven, Shelly Francka,Susan Lynch, Rodger W. Minatra,

R. Stanton Norman, Rodney Reeves,

Tom D. Stevens, David W. Whitlock

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PSALM 15

Integrating Faith and Work

Copyright © 2008 David Wesley Whitlock & Gordon Dutile. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical publications or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write: Permissions, Wipf and Stock, 199 W. 8th Ave., Suite 3, Eugene, OR 97401.

www.wipfandstock.com

ISBN 13: 978-1-55635-810-4

EISBN 13: 978-1-4982-7564-4

Manufactured in the U.S.A.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilm, and recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States of America.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible©, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible©, Holman CSB©, and HCSB© are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Scripture quotations NASB are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from The New King James Version / Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers., Copyright © 1982. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. The NIV and New International Version" trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.

Scripture quotations marked NRSV are taken from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version, Cambridge, 1769.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Acknowledgments

Contributors

Foreword

Introduction

1: Integrity

The Essence of Integrity

An Ethics Primer

2: Service

Putting Others First

Free to Serve

3: Respect

All I’m Asking For

4: Charity

Preserving the Dignity of Work

Spiritual Accounting

5: Faithfulness

A Picture of Faithfulness

6: Truthfulness

To Tell the Truth

7: Humility

Humility in Attitude and Action

8: Perseverance

What Keeps You Going?

Pressing On Toward Victory

9: Putting It into Practice

The Necessity of a Biblical Christian Worldview

Epilogue: A Challenge

All royalties generated from the sale of this book are donated to

SBU’s Psalm 15 Faith Integration Program.

Acknowledgments

This devotional book is an abbreviated version of the book, A Noble Calling: Devotions and Essays for Business Professionals , published by Wipf and Stock Publishers, Resource Publications, Eugene, Oregon (see www.anoblecalling.com). A Noble Calling presents expanded essays on integrating a biblical worldview with business and professional life. Contributors to A Noble Calling hope that readers will be impressed to free themselves from the false dichotomy that pits ministry over and against the conduct of business and professional life—that readers will be liberated from a mindset that artificially separates the Christian life and spirituality from the professional life. The book is available from www.wipfandstock.com and other booksellers.

Psalm 15: Integrating Faith and Work is the result of collaboration by colleagues of Southwest Baptist University, who are dedicated to promoting the concept of applying a biblical worldview to one’s profession. In addition to chapter contributors, the following individuals are acknowledged for their contributions, suggestions, and encouragement:

Rhonda Agee

Sharla Bailey

Wayne Clark

James Cain

Ashley Dinwiddie

Judy Dutile

Tina Campbell Owens

J. D. Lynch

Scarlettah Schaefer

C. Pat Taylor

Jenell Wagner

Carrie Wolcott

Dana Leigh Whitlock

Contributors

Troy Bethards is an Assistant Professor at Southwest Baptist University. He holds the BS from Southwest Baptist University, the MBA from Missouri State University, and the DBA from Anderson University.

Ronda O. Credille is an Associate Professor of Business Administration at Southwest Baptist University. She holds a BS from Southwest Baptist University, an MBA from Drury College, and the PhD from the University of Nebraska.

Timothy DeClue is Chair and Professor of Computer and Information Sciences at Southwest Baptist University. He holds the BS from Northwest Missouri State University and the MS and PhD from Southern Illinois University.

Gordon Dutile is the Provost at Southwest Baptist University where he also served for many years as a professor of Greek. He holds a B.S. from Louisiana Tech University, and the MDiv and PhD from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. His previous book, A Noble Calling: Devotions and Essays for business Professionals, is available from Resource Publications at www.wipfandstock.com.

Marinell Rayfield Erven is a retired school administrator and currently serves as the Administrative Assistant for the College of Business and Computer Science at Southwest Baptist University. She holds the BS from Missouri State University, and the MS from Drury University.

Shelly Francka is the MBA Director at Southwest Baptist University. She holds her BS and MBA from Southwest Baptist University, and is a PhD student at Northwest University.

Susan Lynch is Chair and Professor of Business Administration at Southwest Baptist University. She holds a BA from Southwest Baptist University, the MSE from Central Missouri State University, and the EdD from the University of Arkansas.

Rodger W. Minatra is an Associate Professor of Business Administration at Southwest Baptist University. He holds a BS from Arizona State University, an MA from the University of Denver, and the EdD from the University of North Texas.

R. Stanton Norman serves as the Vice President for University Relations at Southwest Baptist University. He holds a BA from Criswell College, and the MDiv and PhD from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Rodney Reeves serves as the Dean of The Courts Redford College of Theology and Ministry, and as Professor of Biblical Studies at Southwest Baptist University. He holds a BA from Southwest Baptist University, the MDiv and PhD from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and has completed additional study at Oxford University.

Tom D. Stevens is an Instructor of Economics at Southwest Baptist University. He holds a BS from Southwest Baptist University, a MTS from Dallas Theological Seminary, and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.

David W. Whitlock serves as the Associate Provost, Dean of the College of Business and Computer Science, and Professor of Business Administration at Southwest Baptist University. He holds the BS and MBA. from Southeastern Oklahoma State University, and the PhD from the University of Oklahoma. His previous books with Resource Publications include: Opportunity: Introducing Free Enterprise and Business, and A Noble Calling: Devotions and Essays for Business Professionals.

Foreword

C. Pat Taylor

In Psalm 15: Integrating Faith and Work , Dr. Whitlock and Dr. Dutile have compiled a series of devotions by professionals who practice what they preach. The contributors to this small volume are Christians